Mahogany
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Movie Reviews of Mahogany
Movie Review: Diana Ross at her best, loved it
Summary: 5 Stars
Very entertaining, loved it, showed self determination, that you can succeed if you have a passion and go for it.Movie Review: Great 70s movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
The fashion and Billie Dee make this movie. Loved it when I was a kid and love it now!Movie Review: enjoy it for what it's worth
Summary: 4 Stars
Mahogany tells the story of Tracy Chambers (Diana Ross), a young woman from the Chicago ghetto who dreams endlessly of being a world-renowned fashion designer. The men in Tracy's life bolster Diana Ross as the film's leading actress. Far from being the perfect Ross vehicle I remembered it to be, when I watched this film this afternoon once again after many years, I found it somewhat superficial--even when showing Tracy's on-again off-again romance with political activist Brian Walker (Billy Dee Williams).
The action starts when Tracy is working in a department store--going nowhere fast. By luck she is noticed by famous and influential fashion photographer Sean McAvoy (Anthony Perkins). After some twists and turns in the plot, most of which serve only to extend the movie's running length, Tracy is fired from the store and she decides to join Sean McAvoy in Rome to be a designer instead of staying with the man who really loves her, Brian Walker.
Unfortunately for Tracy, the minute she arrives in Rome trouble slowly but surely creeps into her life. McAvoy is a callous brute who names his models after inanimate objects to depersonalize his relationship with them. Sean's insecurity and insanity also slowly begins to show: Sean slashes pictures of his last greatest fashion model and he becomes desperate to prove his manhood to Tracy. When Brian loses the election for Alderman back in Chicago, he tries to join Tracy in Rome and live her lifestyle without much success.
Of course, there is much more to the plot. Tracy (Mahogany) takes a big chance and wears her own fashion creation instead of the dress she was to wear at a major fashion show. What happens next provides some meat to the skimpy plot. The wealthy fashion--and women--loving Christian Rosetti (Jean-Pierre Aumont) enters Mahogany's life.
How will this change Sean's relationship with Tracy? Will Sean and Brian get along when Brian arrives in Rome to try to share life with Tracy on her terms? How far with Christian go to help Mahogany? What does Christian want from Mahogany? Why is he so interested in her? No spoilers here, folks--you'll have to watch the movie to find out the answers to these questions including the big question as to how the story finally ends.
The choreography works wonders for the fashion show scenes and the scenes in the department store early on in the film are thoughtfully presented. The excellent cinematography really shows in the car racing scene and the scenes in which Sean McAvoy takes seemingly endless photos of Mahogany.
Overall, this film is just about as pure 1970s "lite fare" love story as you're ever going to get. I agree with some reviewers who write that the film could have been shortened a few minutes here and there to make it tighter and better. I highly recommend this film for fans of Diana Ross; and people who like fairy tale type love stories in a modern day setting will enjoy this film, too. It may not be the best flick I've ever seen; but Mahogany pulls its weight without creaking--at least not too loudly.
Three and one half stars.
Movie Review: As Much Drama Behind The Scenes As In The Script
Summary: 4 Stars
After the fabulous Lady Sings the Blues, the next lead role for Diana Ross would prove to be quite difficult, if not impossible. And then add the drama surrounding Berry Gordy and the directing of Mahogany, it is ultimately the professionalism of the cast that kept the project from completely falling apart.
The movie was produced by Motown Records and released in 1975 by Paramount Pictures to mostly very critical reviews in the media. One joke back in the day was the highlight of the film was the song, Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To), which actually claimed the number one slot on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1976. The movie received one 1976 Academy Award nomination, for Best Music, Original Score.
Perhaps the person who was cast incorrectly for a role was Gordy as director, who replaced Tony Richardson, after reports of the timeless cinema tug-of-war, creative differences. Gordy also reportedly had spats with Ross, which may have been as much personal as professional. Ross ultimately left the production before filming was completed.
Through all the turmoil, Ross turns in an admirable performance as Tracy/Mahogany, who puts herself through fashion school with the goal of being one of the world's top designers. But Tracy's beauty and ambition carries its own series of heavy burdens. As the line on the original movie poster reads, "Mahogany: the woman every woman wants to be - and every man wants to have."
Ross proved to be a talent for design, as she created some of the costumes for the fashion show sequence. Billy Dee Williams (Brian) and Anthony Perkins (Sean McAvoy) are great in their roles.
But the film did not have the typical creative energy from the director to the cast. Gordy was cutting the check - and Motown Records had a lot riding on Ross as a recording/movie superstar - but his ego-infused meddling ultimately destroyed what could have been a classic film with a variation of the timeless theme concerning a person reaching for the stars and achieving success against incredible odds.
Movie Review: 1975
Summary: 4 Stars
A mid-70s time capsule for urban chic. Sometimes I felt like I was stepping into the cover art of a Miles Davis album cover. Sometimes not. Diana Ross.. who better to demonstrate 70s 'cool' (or at least 'the look')? Italy makes a great backdrop as well. I enjoyed the scenes of her when she wasn't with her goofy politician boyfriend (aka 'Lando Calrissian). Anthony Perkins was not bad as the photographer, even has some likable moments as a character, though you always have the feeling he's about to go psycho. Four stars may be a little high for this film. It's way schmaltzy, and the acting occasionally leaves a little to be desired, but the story keeps moving and I found the subject of photography interesting in addition to a mid-70s Diana Ross in Rome. As a movie, it tries to be more than it is - is success more important than love? In Lando Calrissian's view, success means nothing if you don't have anyone to share it with. As Tracy (Diana Ross) does begin to 'make it' she suddenly finds herself "empty" - an interesting theme - problem is I didn't really buy it. I didn't beleive Lando's words and personage could have such effect on her, as in reality she seemed too wrapped up in herself - her world, her fashion designs, her fame - for me to beleive she cared about him. And her 'awakening to the truth' seemed less than beleivable. Actually this movie had it's too predictable and annoying moments as well, but I didn't regret seeing it though I probably should have given it 3 stars.